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Death Takes a Holiday -- In Fact,
It's Immortalized on the Web

By

Rachel Emma Silverman Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Nov. 2, 1998 1:43 a.m. ET

Attention taphophiles: Today is your day.

For aficionados of cemeteries and funerals, Nov. 2 marks an unusual confluence of commemorations: It is All Soul's Day, a Roman Catholic holiday to remember the dead. And El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) in Mexico, where families hold picnics, and even play games, beside the graves of their dearly departed.

If you're at a loss for words, Mr. Hardie will create a custom-made epitaph, for a fee of $1,000. He does, however, offer free epitaphs to prisoners on death row and to U.S. military personnel in combat zones.

His site provides links to a number of "virtual cemeteries" where you can memorialize a loved one in a virtual grave and have it maintained for a year. At Imminent Domain http://imminentdomain.com , options include the Bronze Memorial ($39.95) and the deluxe "Platinum Memorial Site," ($199.95) which includes a hit-counter to register mourners.

Still more taphophilia can be found at the City of the Silent Web site, www.alsirat.com/~silence devoted to mortuary culture. Created in 1995 by Joel Gazis-Sax, a writer and historian, the site features funereal music, inspirational inscriptions -- even tips on gravestone-rubbing. It also has a list of other deadly days declared by various religious and special-interest groups, including:

Nov. 17: Aztec Day of the Dead, when sacrifices were thought to prevent future calamities.

Feb. 15: Nirvana Day. Buddha died on this day, achieving bliss.

March 25: Feast of Saint Dismas, the patron saint of undertakers and prisoners on death row. (Dismas was a repentant thief crucified alongside Jesus.)

April 28: Workers Memorial Day. Remember those killed or injured on the job.

Aug. 6: Electric Chair Day, marking the first use, in 1890.

Aug. 15: Buddhist Day of the Dead. When a man went to Buddha, bereaved over a friend's death, wise Buddha said: throw a party. Now, Buddhists hold carnivals on this day.

2nd Sunday in September: National Pet Memorial Day. Every dog has its day. Dead dogs have this one.